Process of low temperature coal distillation



July 21, 1925'. 1,547,027

G. CANTI ENY PROCESS OF LOW TEMPERATURE COAL DISTILLATION Filed Mgy 15. 1924 INVENTOR gyM 42L; 04

///J A TTURNEY Patented .lulyZl, 1925.

UNITED ST T enone CANTTENY, or

sELLscnArT M. B.

BERLIN, .GERMANSi, ASSIGNOR :ro oHtENsonEInuNGs-GE- H.,,0F BERLIN, GERMANY,

A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

rnoonss or Low mmrnaa'ruan GOAL nrs'rrtm'rron;

Application filed ma 15, 1924. Serial No. 713,627.

To all whom it may concern. 1

Be it known that I, Grow QAN'rinnr, a citizen of the German Republic, residing in Berlin, Germany, have invented cer-' 6 tain new and useful Improvements in and Relating to a Process of Low Temperature Coal Distillation, of which the following is a specification.

It has become known that it is desirable 10 in connection with the treating of coal with heat, (recovery of low temperature tar, distillation at low temperatures) in retort-s or like apparatus cempletely filled with'ceal, to add coke or semi-coke to the coal in or 13 der to avoid certain difficulties which otherwise are experienced therewith. This measure serves the object of facilitatingthe passage through the closely packed material of the heating gases and of driven off during the low temperature distillation, the particles of the mass under treatment being subdivided by .the additional porous material. Furthermore the additional coke, and the intermediate spaces formed thereby are intended to support the transmission of the heating efi'ectto the material, and to also effect an absorption and arrest of the residue of the volatile hydrocarbons especially of the pitch. For

distillation arrangements of the gas pro- .ducer type, it has also been proposed to intermingle coal and coke or other suitable fuels in horizontal or vertical layers; this for the purpose of facilitating a penetration of the material by the heating medium and by the gases produced and to prevent the caking together ofthe entire content of the apparatus to an impenetrable plastic mass.

The present invention is based upon the 40 knowledge that the addition of coke as previously proposed is capable of preventing, in other kinds of apparatus, i. e. in such in which the coal is moved along mechanically whereby it is constantly turned over and mixed, the disadvantageous caking and sticking together, which leads to a blocking of the apparatus because of a mass of conglomerated mater1al, and to a stoppage of.

the operation of the installation because of 5e tl 1e sticking to" the conveying means of, the only partially distilled coal. This was not an obvious knowledge for the prior inventors, since the described disadvantageous properties of the caking coal did not take place, or if so to a very small extent only,

the hydro-carbons principle,

a the utilization of the-half filled retorts.

Not until the modern distilling devices were employed, and especially such as are fitted with ascrew conveyor, agitating wings, conveying bands and rotary drums, and especially with such where the coal only partially fills an inner chamber, did the oaking of the coal cause the heavy disturbances mentioned. a

The process'of the present invention may be carried out apparatus such as is shown and described in my United States Patent No. 1, t95,573, granted May 27,1924,

in an drawing, accompanying this specification, which is a longitudinal section and in which figure a furnace designated by 1 is employed for heating a revolvable retort 2 comprising an outer drum or wall 3 and an inner tubular body or tube 4 with tension or spacing pieces 5 for assisting in supporting the outer. drum or wall 3. There is also and illustrated in thesole figure of the shown helical guiding'ribs or bands 6 for facilitating the passage of the material. In other words these helical guiding ribs or hands constitute mechanical conveying means for the material to be worked or under treatment.

As it is well known, the modern apparatus was designedchiefiy in order to avoid, on the difficulties accompanying the older and completely filled retorts, which the inventors of that time thought to be able to remove by the addition of coke and the like. According to the present invention, a certain quantity of coke or semi-coke is con stantly added to the material and the coal under treatment is thereby changed from a detrimental and sticky state into a crumbly and perfectly harmless condition. An agglomeration of the material sufficient to form lumps or a sticking of the material to the conveying means or to' the walls in a sible heat contained therein is utilized again 'manner to be detrimental to the process are for the process and furthermore the fresh material is slowly heated, which in itself causes a/decrease in the tendency of the material to cake and stick.

The ,t1uantity of the added material will naturally depend upon the properties of the material to be treated, and the coke or solid residuals added will probably have a func tional effect upon the amount of coal treated,

2. In the distilling of bituminous materials at" low' temperature in retorts fitted 'with mechanical conveying means for the material tobe distilled, the method which comprises mixing some of the solid residual products produced by the same process with said materials and distilling said mixture while mixing the same and simultaneously therewith conveying the same through the retort whereby the particles of the materials to be distilled contact with the added prod ucts substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. In the distilling of bituminous materials at low temperatures in furnaces fitted'with mechanical conveying means for the material'to be worked, the method which consists in adding to fresh bituminous material the final solid residual product of the same process While still in a hot condition and distilling the same While mixing the same and simultaneously therewith conveying the same through the furnace substantially as describedandfor the purpose set forth. 1

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' GEORG CANTIENY.

Witnesses:

WLAD ENDERS, RYEB T. Ausrnron. 

